Matrix type slide switch assembly

ABSTRACT

A switch for selectively connecting a plurality of conductors includes a plurality of slidably mounted elements each associated with a respective conductor and each carrying at least one contact blade. Connection of any two or more conductors is assured by cooperation of the contact blades with a matrix-like array when the respective elements are aligned in any corresponding one of several positions that the elements can adopt.

United States Patent I191 Held [451 July 22,1975

[52] US. Cl.

1 1 MATRIX TYPE SLIDE SWITCH ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: George Held, Neuchatel,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle Radioelectrique, Switzerland [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 413,943

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 13, 1973 Switzerland 3672/73 200/16 R; 200/16 D [51] Int. Cl. H01h 15/06 [58] Field of Search 200/16 B, 16 C, 16 D, 16 E,

Primary ExaminerJames R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A switch for selectively connecting a plurality of conductors includes a plurality of slidably mounted elements each associated with a respective conductor and each carrying at least one contact blade. Connection of any two or more conductors is assured by co-' operation of the contact blades with a matrix-like array when the respective elements are aligned in any corresponding one of several positions that the elements can adopt.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Lewandowski 200/ l 6 F PATENTEDJUL 2 2 I975 SHEET 10a FIG.1

MATRIX TYPE SLIDE SWITCH ASSEMBLY The invention relates to switches for interconnecting a plurality of conductors such as inputs or terminals.

According to the invention, a switch for selectively interconnecting a plurality of discrete conductors comprises a plurality of elements each associated with a respective conductor, said elements each carrying at least one contact blade, means for mounting said elements for individual linear movement into a plurality of determined positions whereby the elements of different conductors can be'aligned with one another in corresponding ones of said positions, and means cooperating with said contact blades for interconnecting the conductors when their respective elements are aligned in any corresponding one of said positions.

By way of example, the accompanying schematic drawings show an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a switch according to the invention, partly in cross-section along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and showing only a single cursor;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of this switch; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the switch.

The switch shown in the drawings is designed to selectively interconnect a plurality of conductors or inputs identified by markings 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 and consisting of elongate conducting plates or strips A B C D,, E,,, F disposed in parallel spaced-apart relationship on vertical plates 21 under six corresponding slots 21 in an overlying, horizontal plate 20. The number of inputs in the drawings has been limited to six, but a greater number could be provided.

Each input has a cursor element 10 which is linearly displaceable into a plurality of determined positions. This linear displacement may be effected by means of a button 10a guided in a slot 21 and two cylindrical bars 1 l and 12 on which element 10 can slide. The first bar 11 has positioning grooves 13 co-operating with an elastically retractable member 14 housed in element 10, a spring-urged ball-bearing for example,to define eleven spaced-apart positions for element 10. Element 10 carries a contact blade 15 insulated from the main body of the element. Blade 15 is terminated by two sliding-contacts 15a and 15b which, as the cursor element is moved into its different positions, successively electrically connect the input conductor (A B F to 11 transverse conductor terminals (M N 0 W corresponding to the eleven positions of the cursor element, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 3. The terminals M, W are disposed on same surfaces of plates 21 which also carry the conductors A, etc.

The diagram shows that when two (or more) cursor elements are aligned in a same determined position (and whichever this determined position may be) the inputs corresponding to these cursors are electrically interconnected.

In the position of FIGS. 2 and 3, inputs 1 and 2 (A B 3 and 6 (C F and 4 and 5 (D B are respectively interconnected by transverse conductors R 8, and V The described switch therefore enables any number of the inputs to be interconnected as desired. The switch is particularly useful in language laboratories, for it enables any number of booths to be placed in communication with each other and with the teacher,- for example.

As a modification, illustrated in dotted-dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch could be double, each element 10 carrying a second insulated contact blade 15 which electrically connects second input conductors (A',, B F to one ofa second set of transversal conductors (M N 0' W The conductors on which the sliding-contacts 15a, l5b of contact blades 15 slide, are preferably provided in accordance with the printed-circuit art.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch, comprising;

a frame which has a plurality of plates disposed in planes parallel to one another, each plate having a pair of first conductors and a plurality of terminals of each first conductor, all disposed in the respective planes; said frame also having a plurality of pairs of second conductors disposed transversely of said planes, each second conductor having a plurality of terminals also disposed in said planes, including a pair of terminals for each plate, adjacent terminals of the first conductors on the plate;

a plurality of slide means, one for each plate and each mounted for individual linear movement along the respective pair of first conductors into any one of a plurality of determined positions aligned with the second conductors; and

contact means on each slide means, each for connecting a selected terminal of a second conductor with the corresponding terminal of a first conductor and for thereby interconnecting two or more of said pairs of first conductors by elements of said second conductors when respective slide means are in corresponding ones of said positions. 

1. A switch, comprising; a frame which has a plurality of plates disposed in planes parallel to one another, each plate having a pair of first conductors and a plurality of terminals of each first conductor, all disposed in the respective planes; said frame also having a plurality of pairs of second conductors disposed transversely of said planes, each second conductor having a plurality of terminals also disposed in said planes, including a pair of terminals for each plate, adjacent terminals of the first conductors on the plate; a plurality of slide means, one for each plate and each mounted for individual linear movement along the respective pair of first conductors into any one of a plurality of determined positions aligned with the second conductors; and contact means on each slide means, each for connecting a selected terminal of a second conductor with the corresponding terminal of a first conductor and for thereby interconnecting two or more of said pairs of first conductors by elements of said second conductors when respective slide means are in corresponding ones of said positions. 